Steering mechanism for automobiles



F. I. TONE. STEERING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB, 7. 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Patented Nov. 8, 1921.

F. I. TONE.

STEERING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES'. APPLICATION FILED FEB. I, |920.

Patented Nov. 8, 1921.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRED I. TONE, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO CHILD HAROLD WILLS, OF

DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

STEERING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Y Patented Nov. 8, 1921.

Application led February 7, 1920. Serial No. 356,914.

To all whom zi may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED I. TONE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, county of W'ayne, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Steering Mechanism for Automobiles, and declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to steering mechanism for automobiles and an object of my improvements is to provide an improved construction that is readily assembled, conveniently adjusted, and permanently fixed in its adjusted position.

I secure this object in the .device illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a side eleva-tion of a steering mechanism embodying my invention showing a part of the side piece of the chassis of an automobile to which said mechanism is attached.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line II-II, Fig. l, looking in the direction of the arrovFv,

1g. Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. l, the steering wheel being broken away.

`Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the eccentric sleeve forming part of said apparatus, detached from the assembly.

Fig. 6 is a section on the line VI-VI, Fig. 5. looking in the direction of the arrow.

Fig. 7 is a. plan view of the adjusting nut.

Fig. S is a section on the line VIII-VIII, Fig. l. the securing wire being left oil". 1

Fig. 9 is a diametrical section of the securing ring on the line IX-IX. Fig. 8.

Fig. l0 is a perspective view of the securing wire.

a' indicates the side piece of the chassis. c is a flanged sleeve secured by bolts b3 to the upper flange of the side piece a to clamp an inclosed socket in the conventional way, as indicated at b2, Fig. 3. c is a gear housing from which extends the steering post d which inclOScS the lsteering,shaft d?, Upon 3 is a section on the line III- IIL the lower end of the steering shaft Z2 is keyed the spiral gear wheel d3.

c is a hollow cylindrical socket secured in the clamp b. h is an eccentric hollow cylindrical bearing fitted and adapted to turn in the socket e. At its outer end the bearing 71. has an outwardly extending annular flange 71,2 having symmetrically spaced transverse grooves h2@ therein.

f is a spindle tting and adapted to oscillate in the bearing Iz.. The outer end of said spindle is provided with the annular outstanding flange fs, the inner face of which engages against the inner face of the bearing t. f2 in the operating arm on the outer end of the spindle f. The inner end of said spindle is tapered presenting the conical surface f3 and there is a worm wheel g fitting on said conical surface and keyed to the spindle f. g is a nut for securing the worm wheel firmly in position.

p is a, shim, acting as a thrust washer, interposed between the inner face of the worm wheel g and the inner end of the socket c.

e2 is an outwardly extending annular flange on the socket c, near its inner end. lThe casing c is secured to said flange.

The outer end of the socket c is screwthreaded, as indicated at e, Fig. 2, and is provided with a longitudinal groove c3 (Figs. 2 and 8) in its outer surface.

j is a nut having internal screw threads adapted to engage the screw threads c4 on the socket e. The nut j is provided with uniformly spaced transverse grooves j* in its outer periphery (Fig 7).

7c is a ring .adapted to it over the outer end of the socket c and having an inwardly extending lug 7c3 adapted to engage in the groove e3 in Said socket. The ring 7c has a groove 7a2 formed around its periphery and it is provided with a transverse groove c inv its outer edge.

n is a resilient wire bent in the form of a circle adapted to lit into the groove 702. One end of the ring n is bent so as to project laterally, as indicated at n2 and n2, Fig. 10.

In assembling, the socket e with the housing d secured thereto, is clamped in the flanged sleeve b in its proper position. .The nut j is then screwed upon the outer end of the socket e and the ring 7c is passed over the end of said socket outside of said nut, its lug outwardly extending annular flange at the end of said socket piece, said flange being provided on its periphery with spaced, laterally extending grooves, said socket piece being provided with a longitudinally extending groove in its outer surface, a ring having an inwardly extending lug, said ring being adapted to pass over said socket piece and its lug to engage in the groove in said socket piece, said ring having a transverse slot in its periphery and a locking piece adapted to engage in the laterally extending slot in said ring and in said flange of' the bearing.

7. In an apparatus of the kind described, a socket piece, an eccentric bearing in said socket piece adapted to be adjusted longitudinally therein, said bearing having an outwardly extending annular flange at the end of said socket piece, said flange being provided on its periphery with spaced, laterally extending grooves, said socket piece being provided With a longitudinally extending groove in its outer surface, a ring having an inwardly extending lug, said ring being adapted to pass over said socket piece and its lug to engage in the groove in said socket piece, said ring having a transverse slot in its periphery and a locking piece adapted to engage in the laterally extending slot in said ring and in said flange of the bearing, said socket piece being screw threaded at its end, a nut having internal screw threads engaging the threads on said socket piece, said nut being located inside of said ring, a laterally extending groove in the periphery of said nut and a lug piece adapted to engage in the laterally extending grooves in said nut, ring and flange of the bearing.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specilication.

FRED I. TONE. 

